Adjustable head-supported binocular



Jan. 20, 1953 J. E. GAYLOR ADJUSTABLE HEAD-SUPPORTED BINOCULARS 2 SHEETS SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 50, 1950 INVENTOR.

JAMES E. GAYLOR' 9M 5 PATENT AG ENT Jan. 20, 1953 T GAYLQR 2,625,855

ADJUSTABLE HEAD-SUPPORTED BINOCULARS INVENTOR JAMES E. GAYLOR PATENT AGENT Patented Jan. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE HEAD-SUPPORTED BINOCULAR James E. Gaylor, Huntington Park, Calif. I

Application January 30, 1950, Serial No. 141,335

. 8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a light, head supported binocular, field glass or the like optical instrument to be comfortably held in operative position in front of the eyes of the wearer.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a mounting means for said optical instrument, to be attached to the forehead of the wearer, said mounting means permitting the binocular, field glass or the like to be easily turned from its operative position in front of the wearers eyes to a raised, inoperative position in which said optical instrument is not in the field of vision of the wearers eyes.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of means by which each of the casings containing the two optical systems is pivotally mounted on said head supported mounting means in such manner, that the two casings can be adjusted with respect to each other to any desired eyes distance.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an eye shield or cup element of resilient material, such as soft rubber, on that end of each of the two casings containing the optical systems,

which faces the wearers eye, said eye shields or cup elements preventing access of light to the eyes from the sides and being rotatably mounted on said casings, so that the wearer of the optical instrument can readily adjust the eye shields or cup elements to fit the shape of his face, whereby he simultaneously can adjust the instrument to the proper distance between his eyes by swinging the casings with the aid of the pivot means mentioned in the foregoing paragraph.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of casings of the two optical systems made of light metals, such as aluminum, Du-

ralumin or magnesium, or of non-metallic materials, such as natural or synthetic resins, plastics, Celluloid, or the like, which materials are sufli'ciently strong to support the lenses.

These and other important objects and advantageous features of this invention Will be apparent from the following detailed description and drawing, appended thereto, wherein merely for the purposes of disclosure, non-limitative embodiments of this invention are set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the head supported binocular according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the binocular, shown in Figure 1, on a reduced scale, applied to the head and face of the wearer.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the binocular of Figure 1, taken along the line 5-3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a front view of one of the means pivotally mounting the casings containing the two optical systems.

Figure 5 is a front View of another embodiment of the head supported binocular according to this invention.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through the binocular shown in Figure 5, taken along the line 66 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a bottom view of the center hinge of the binocular, illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, on a somewhat enlarged scale.

Figure 8 is a side view, partially in section, of a lens having colored glass and/or a transparent shield to be attached to the front end of each of the two casings of the binocular, shown in Figures 5 and 6.

In the embodiment of the binocular, illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, a pair of casings I0 and ,Il, each containing one of the two optical systems, is secured to a head supported mounting means I2 adapted to be applied to the head of the wearer of the binocular, as shown in Figure 2. The mounting means I2 comprises a longitudinal, flat, transverse bar 13 having slots l4 and. I5 at its ends. A flexible strap I6, adapted to attach the binocular to the wearers head, is threaded through said slots. The length of the strap 16 can be readily adjusted in a manner known per se with the aid of conventional strap adjusting means, not shown in the drawing. The rear surface of the transverse bar I3, i. e., the surface facing the-wearers face, is covered by a piece I! of elastic or resilient material, such as foam or sponge rubber, the rear of which is slightly arched to perfectly fit the wearers forehead when the binocular is applied thereto. Said soft rubber piece i1 is secured, for example by cementing, to the bar I3. A thin covering I 8 of a mooth fabric or the like flexible material may be fastened, for example by cementing, to the free surfaces of said soft rubber piece l1, said covering 18 actually contacting the wearers forehead.

Hinges of the same size are provided near both ends of the transverse bar l3, spaced apart approximately the average distance between the pupillary axes of the human eyes. Upper hinge parts l9 and 20 of said hinges are suitably made of one piece with the lower ed e of said transverse bar l3, and lower hinge parts 2| and ,22, respectively, are secured thereto by means of pins 23 and 26, respectively. The lower hinge parts 2| and 23 are interconnected by a joining member or rod 25 and can be made integral with it, for exam le by welding, brazing, soldering or riveting. In addition to this, rivets or bolts 26 and 21 fasten the rod 25 to the lower hinge parts 2| and 22, respectively. When the mounting means I2 is applied to and across the wearers forehead approximately at the center level of the forehead, the two lower. ioined hinge parts 2| and 22 can be swung together about an axis through the two pins 23 and 26, said axis being substantially parallel to and somewhat above a line joining the two pupillary axes of the wearer's eyes and being substantially perpendicular to said pupillary axes.

The two casings l and II containing the optical systems are supported by plates 28 and 2B which are pivotally mounted on and between the lower hinge parts 2| and 22, respectively. As shown in Figure 4, plate 28 has an opening 30 near its upper rounded edge, throu h which the rivet or bolt 26 is passed. Plate 29 has the same opening receiving the rivet or bolt 21.

Figure 3 illustrates the assemblage of the plate 28 between two parallel sheets or layers 3| and 32 forming the lower hinge part 2|, said rivet or bolt 26 extending throu h the joining rod 25, the sheet 3| of the lower hinge part 2|. the opening 38 of the plate 28 and the sheet 32 of this hinge part 2|. Plate 29 has the same shape and is mounted in the same manner on the lower hinge part 22. The plates 28 and 29 can be freely pivoted independently from each other about the rivets or bolts 2'6 and 21, respectively, in a plane substantially normal with respect to the pupillary axes of the wearers eyes, when the binocular is in operative position. A second position to which the casing I can be adjusted in this manner, is indicated in Figure 1 with dotted lines. Lock washers, not shown in the drawing, may be inserted in 'a manner known per se between the rivet or bolt heads or nuts and the poining rod 25 or the lower hinge part 2|, so that a sli ht pressure is exerted on the plates 28 and 29, which pressure has to be overcome, when these plates are swung about the rivets or bolts 26 and 21, respectively, to adjust the interocular distance between the two optical systems. The provision of such inserted lock washers has the advantage that the interocular distance of the two optical systems, after being adjusted, can be retained during the use of the binocular. The lower portion of the plate 28 (see Fig. 4) is provided with a large circular opening 33 adapted to receive the one end of the casing Ill containin the one of the two optical systems. The same circular opening is provided in the lower portion of the plate 28, adapted to receive the one end of the casing containing the other of the two optical systems. The plates 28 and 29 have the general shape of ovals, which are wider at the bottom than at the top.

The inner structure of the casing 8 containing the one optical system and its mounting is illustrated in Figure 3. The casing containing the other optical system and its mounting is principally the same and, therefore, not shown in a separate figure. The casing I8 comprises an inner barrel 34 having outer or male threads 35 at its front end, engaging corresponding female threads 36 in the inner wall of an outer barrel 31. The front end of the outer barrel 31 is recessed to receive an objective lens 38 held in a cell 39. A

retaining ring 40 threaded on the front end of recess of said outer barrel. By rotating the outer barrel 3'! on and with respect to the inner barrel 3d, the objective lens can be displaced, due to the provision of the threads 38 and 36, in the direction of the pupillary axis with respect to the inner or stationary barrel 34 to focus the optical system. In the same way, the optical system contained in the casing I can be focused.

At the rear end of the inner barrel 34, i. e., at the end facing the eye, a socket or flange member 4| is threaded into said inner barrel 34. An eye lens 42 is mounted in said flange or socket member 4| by means of a smaller retaining socket or ring member 48, which may be threaded into the socket or flange member ll. The front portion of said socket or flange member 4|, which is threaded into the rear end of the inner barrel 34, is passed through the opening 33 of the plate 28, said opening having the same diameter as the outer diameter of said threaded front portion. The inner barrel 34 is secured to the plate 28 by tightly screwing the socket member 4| into said inner barrel 34, whereby said plate 28 inserted between the end of the inner barrel 34 and a first flange or ring surface 44 of the socket member 4| is firmly held between the latter parts.

Eye shields or cup elements 15 and 48 of flexible material, such as soft natural or synthetic rubber, plastic, or the like, are rotatably mounted on the rear ends of the casings l0 and II, respectively, by means of said socket members 4|. As shown in Figure 3, a flange 41 formed at the front end of the eye shield 45 is inserted between plate 28 and a second flange or ring surface 48 of said socket member M in such a manner, that said eye shield 45 can be easily turned with respect to the socket member 4| to adjust its position, so that the eye shield 25 properly covers the sides between the wearers face and the binocular preventing the access of light to the eye from said sides. When the interocular distance of the binocular is changed by swinging the plates 28 and 29 together with the casings 0 and mounted thereon about the rivets or bolts 26 and 21, respectively, a readjusting of the eye shields may be necessary, because the eye shields 45 and 46 are attached to said casings i8 and II and participate in the swinging movements.

While the elements of the head-supported mounting means of the optical instrument, such as the transverse bar l3, the hinges associated therewith, the joining member 25 and the plates 28 and 29 are suitably made of light metal, such as aluminum, Duralumin, magnesium, or their alloys, the casings l8 and II containing the optical systems are partially or entirely made of plastic, synthetic or natural hard rubber, resins of Celluloid, which materials are rigid enough to support the lenses. It is important that the materials used for these casings I8 and II are light and, simultaneously, so rigid that the walls of the casings l0 and I! can be made very thin to reduce their weight to a great extent.

The new head supported binocular can be readily swung by the wearer about the axis through the hinge pins 23 and 24 from the operative position, shown in full lines in Figure 2, to a raised or inoperative position out of the field of vision, said position bein indicated by dotted lines in the same figure. The binocular is retained in this inoperative position due to a suitable location of the center of gravity in the binocular and can be easily returned to its operative position. When the hands of the wearer grip the casings I0 and H to return the binocular to its operative position, they can simultaneously adjust the eyes distance by slightly displacing or swinging each of said casings in front of the wearers eyes in a plane substantially normal with respect to the pupillary axes of'his eyes. At the same time, the eye shields 45 and 46 can be adjusted by slight rotation on the inner barrels 34 to perfectly fit the wearers face and the optical system can be focused.

The new optical instrument can be used for various purposes. It is very useful as theater glass, and can be likewise advantageously used by the spectators of sports events, races, outdoor movies and television shows. If need, colored lenses, for example bluish-green colored lenses, may be provided in the optical systems to filter the rays passing therethrough.

The invention can be applied to eyeshields or goggles .of the type protecting the eyes of the wearer from flying particles, heat, harmful light rays, etc. Such goggles are used by workers in factories, particularly by welders. In this typeof goggles, the eye lenses 42 (see Figure 3) of the optical systems can be ordinarily omitted and the objective lenses 38 are replaced by transparent shields of non-shatterable material which may be colored.

In the modified embodiment, shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, of the binocular according to this invention, a pair of casings III] and III each containing one of the two optical systems .is attached to a head-supported mounting means I I2 which can be readily applied to the wearers head, in the same manner as the binocular illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. This head-supported mounting means II2 comprises a longitudinal, fiat transverse bar II3, the ends of which. are provided with slots H4 and 'I I5, adapted to receive a flexible head strap IIB. A piece 'I I! of elastic or resilient material of similar shape and construction as the piece I! in the embodiment of Figures 1,2, and 3 is provided on the rear surface of the transverse bar I I3. A covering similar to the smooth fabric I8, shown in Figure 2, may be provided on the elastic piece 1.

Equal hinges are provided close to the ends of the transverse bar I I3, the vertical center lines through said hinges being spaced apart somewhat less than the average distance between the pupillary axes of the human eyes. These hinges comprise outer hinge parts H9 and I29 suitably made of one piece with and projecting from the lower edge of said transverse bar I I3 and inper hinge parts I2! and I22. The respective outer and inner hinge parts are joined by means of :pins .or spanner bolts I23 and I24, the axes of which coincide and are substantially parallel with respect to the longitudinal center lines through the transverse bar I I3 and substantially perpendicular with respect to the pupillary axes of the two optical systems. The bolts I23 and I24 can be tightened by means of spanner nuts I 59 and I5I, respectively, whereby the desired friction between the outer and inner parts of these two hinges can be readily adjusted in such a manner that the casings III] and I II with the optical systems, when swung into the inoperative position, indicated in Figure 6 with dotted lines, will be safely retained in said position due to the friction between these hinge parts. Washers may be inserted between the cooperating hinge parts. The inner hinge parts I2! and I22 are interconnected by means of a joining member I25, these inner hinge parts I2I and I22 constituting end portions .of said joining member I25, suitably made integral with and projecting from it substantially perpendicularly.

.As :shoWn in Figure 5, the joining member I25 is slightly curved and a forked element I52 is provided at the center of its lower side, said forked element being suitably made integral with said joining member I25. The forked element I52 comprises two parallel arms I3I and I32, between which the upper ends of two elbow members 'I28'and I29 are hingedly mounted by means of a pin or spanner bolt I26 passing through said arms and said elbow members and being tightened by a spanner nut 1.56. These upper ends of the :two elbow members I28 .and I29 are made in form. of interfitting opposed lugs I54 and I55 of half of the width of said members from which they project. so that the two lu s to e h rhav the full width of either member I28 or 129 when assembled (see Fi re 16).. Washers may be inserted between the two lugs and/or each lug and its adjacent fork arm. The elbow members I28 and I29 can swing freely and independently .of one another within the forked element I52 about the bolt I26. The lower portions of the elbow members I28 and I29 are disposed at opposite sides of the binocular, each of said portions being provided with a large circular opening I33 (see Figure 6) adapted to receive one of the casings III] and II I, respectively, of the two optical systems. These casings III] and III are mounted in the circular openings 33 of the lower portions of the elbow members I28 and I29, respectively, in substantially the same manner as the casings I0 and I I in Figures 1 to 3 are secured to the plates 28 and 29, respectively.

The inner structure of the casings I I9, shown in Figure 5, is similar to that of the casing I9, shown in Figure 3. The casing Ill) comprises an inner barrel I34 having outer or male threads I35 at its front end, engaging corresponding female threads I36 in the inner wall of an outer barrel I 31. An achromatic doublet objective lens I38, held in a retaining ring I49, is secured to the front end of the outer barrel I31 by threading this retaining ring into said front end. The objective lens I38 can be displaced in the direction of the pupillary axis by rotating the outer barrel I3! on and with respect to the inner barrel I34, to focus the optical system.

The front portion of a socket or flange member MI is threaded into the rear end of the inner barrel ltd. A double concave or negative eye lens I42 is mounted in said flange or socket member MI by means of a retaining ring I43 threaded into said member Isl. The rear end of the inner barrel I34 is passed through the opening I33 in the lower portion of the elbow member I28, said opening having the same diameter as the outer diameter of said rear end. The inner barrel E34 is firmly mounted on and in said elbow mem-' ber I23 by tightly screwing the socket member I lI into said inner barrel I34, whereby the lower portion of this elbow member I29 inserted between the end of the inner barrel I34 and a first flange or ring surface I44 of the socket member MI is securely clamped between the said latter parts.

The optical system in the casing III (see Figure 5) is constructed in the same way as that in the casing H9 and can be focussed in the same manner. Therefore, no description of the inner construction of the casing III is necessary. As in the embodiment of this invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, eye shields I45 and I46 of flexible material, such as rubber, plastic, etc., are

rotatably mounted on the rear ends of the casings I II] and I I I, respectively, of the modification,

shown in Figures and 6. A flange I41 formed at the front end of the eye shield I45 is inserted between the lower portion of the elbow member I28 and a flange or ring surface I43 of the socket member I4! in such a manner, that said eye shield I45 can be readily turned with respect to the socket member I4I to adjust its position in the same way as in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3. The eye shield I46 is rotatably mounted on the casing III in the same manner as the shield I45 on the casing III].

The structural elements of the binocular, shown in Figures 5 to 8, are suitably made of light metal, such as Duralumin.

As shown in Figure 8, a lens I60 of colored glas mounted in a retaining ring I6I, may be provided for each of the two optical systems. This ring I 6!, which is preferably made of metal, such as Duralumin, has a flange or socket portion I62 on the one side, said portion being adapted to resiliently fit over the front ends of the outer barrels I31 of each of the casings I Ill and I II. The resiliency of this flange or socket portion I 62 is obtained by the provision of slots I63 in the wall of said flange or socket portion. In case of goggles for welders or other workers to be protected from flying particles, the glass lenses I60 are replaced by transparent shields of nonshatterable material and the objective and eye lenses will be ordinarly omitted.

The binocular according to Figures 5 and 6 is handled in the same manner as that of Figures 1 to 3. While the latter has two hinges (see pivot bolts 26 and 21 in Figure 1) for the adiustment of the interocular distance, a single hinge (see spanner bolt I26 in Figure 5) is provided as pivot for the two casings III! and III.

As the new optical instruments are extremely light and have soft or padded portions of suitable shapes contacting the users forehead and face, they can be worn without discomfort. If the user wants momentarily to remove the binocular in front of his eyes without removing the mounting means I2 or I I2 from his head, he simply swings the binocular upwards to its raised position, from where it can be readily returned to its operative position.

The invention may be applied to binocular magnifiers used by watchmakers, jewelers, etc. Also in these binoculars, no eye lenses are normally used and the objective lenses are suitable magnifying glasses permitting the work pieces or articles to be viewed at the regular distance of 13 to 18 inches from the eyes. In view of these relative short distances, the axes of the casings containing the two optical systems have to converge or prisms may be built into the two casings of the optical systems, directing the optical axes to one point.

Any other optical system than those described and shown may be employed in the new device. For example, prescription lenses correcting faulty vision may be combined with the optical systems, so that the user of the new binocular does not have to wear separate eyeglasses, when using the new binocular. All ofthe lenses of the new binocular can be easily replaced or exchanged by removing their retaining rings from the casings.

While the invention has been described substantially with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made in the structure described and illustrated without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A head-supported binocular comprising in combination a mounting means of the type to be attached to and across the wearers forehead, two casings, each of them containing lenses for one of the wearers eyes, hinge means between said mounting means and said casings, said hinge means having an axis substantially parallel to and somewhat above a line joining the two pupillary axes of the wearers eyes and substantially perpendicular with respect to said pupillary axes, so that said two casings can be turned from their normal operative position in front of the wearers eyes to a raised and inoperative position and vice versa, at least one pivot means between said hinge means and said casings, said pivot means having an axis substantially parallel with respect to the pupillary axes of the wearers eyes, and clamping means on said pivot means to frictionally engage projecting portions of said casings, so that said projecting portions with said casings can be swung independently from one another in front of the wearers eyes about said pivot axis in a plane substantially perpendicular with respect to said pupillary axes to adjust the proper interocular distance, said clamping means exerting such friction on said projecting parts that the adjusted position of said casings will be retained.

2. A head-supported binocular according to claim 1, wherein said clamping means comprises fork-like extensions of said pivot means, said extensions having two legs spaced from and parallel with respect to one another to receive said projecting portions therebetween.

3. A head-supporting binocular according to claim 1, wherein two clamping means are provided to separately mount each of said projecting portions of said casings, said two clamping means being rigidly interconnected by a joining bar.

4. A head-supporting binocular according to claim 1, wherein each of said projecting portions of said casings is part of a plate, said plate being formed with a large opening adapted to receive one of the ends of its respective casing, and wherein a socket means threaded into said casing secures said plate thereto.

5. A head-supported binocular according to claim 4, wherein lens seats are formed within said socket means to receive lenses and wherein retairiing rings for said lenses are threaded into said socket means.

6. A head-supported binocular comprising in combination, a mounting means of the type to be attached to and across the wearers forehead, two casings, each of them containing lenses for one of the wearers eyes, hinge means between said mounting means and said casings, said hinge means having an axis substantially parallel to and somewhat above a line joining the two pupillary axes of the wearers eyes and substantially perpendicular with respect to said pupillary axes, so that said two casings can be turned from their normal operative position in front of the wearers eyes to a raised and inoperative position and 'vice versa, a single pivot means between said hinge means and said two casings, said pivot means having an axis substantially parallel with respect to the pupillary axes of the wearers eyes, a fork-like extension having two legs spaced from and parallel with respect to each other, portions extending from each of said casings and having free ends, said free ends'being jointly inserted between and pivotally mounted by said legs and frictionally held therebetween, so that said extending portions together with their respective casings can be swung independently from one another in front of the wearers eyes about said pivot axis in a plane substantially perpendicular with respect to said pupillary axes to adjust the proper interocular distance, said fork legs exerting such friction on said ends of said extending portions that the adjusted position of said casings will be retained.

7. A head-supported binocular according to claim 6, wherein each of said free ends of said portions extending from said casings has a lug of half of the thickness of said portion, said free ends being pivotally mounted between said legs with said lugs interfittingly opposing each other.

8. A head-supported binocular according to 10 claim 6; wherein said portions extending from said casings are elbow-shaped members having their free ends in a substantially horizontal position in the normal operative position of said binocular, said free ends being pivotally mounted between said fork legs.

JAMES E. GAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 572,637 Heyn Dec. 8, 1396 1,963,990 Gilkeson et al June 26, 1934 2,187,542 Hagen Jan. 16, 1940 

